Executive chef Wayne Hirabayashi
With a procession of savory aromas wafting from piping-hot woks and fiery grills, the streets of Asia are famous across the globe for flurries of food vendors dishing out steamy servings of comfort food to passersby. The fun spirit of those street foods will be recreated at The Kahala Hotel & Resort Friday,Sept. 9, during a special seaside dining event.
Set to take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of Plumeria Beach House, the luxury hotel’s premier oceanside restaurant, the evening soiree will come alive with bustling food stations for guests to enjoy while overlooking the resort’s secluded and picturesque patch of Kahala Beach.
Wok Fried Garlic Prawns
Priced at $80 per person (and $37.50 for children ages 6-12), the all-inclusive event package will offer street food-inspired fare from a diverse range of regions — from Central and Southeast Asia to India — as well as specialty beverages, worldly art, music and entertainment. While munching on Dim Sum with Tsingtao, Indonesian Corn Fritters or Naan Bread with Ahi Dip, creamy Cucumber Raita sauce and Roasted Tomato Chutney, visitors can throw back a refreshing sip of Taj Mahal beers, sparkling rose, wines and more. “It’s the first time we’re trying an Asian Street Food theme, and we have the perfect venue for it,” says Michele Brumblay, The Kahala’s director of food and beverage. “It’s a whole experience, and you’ll get to try all of the local types of foods from across Asia in one destination. It’s the next best thing to actually flying to those destinations.”
Satay Skewers
While the vibrant atmosphere of Asia’s food markets will be captured at the one-night celebration — engaging all the senses with sizzling sounds, textures and tastes — the menu will be given an upscale “Kahala Style” touch that falls in line with the culinary elegance exhibited at all five of the top-quality dining venues spotted throughout the hotel. Asian Street Food at Plumeria Beach House also will be reflective of executive chef Wayne Hirabayashi’s ability to seamlessly blend globally inspired cuisine with local flavors and ingredients.
When collaborating with executive sous chef Daniel Uyejo on this special menu, Hirabayshi says, “We looked at all the different countries and picked the street foods that are most popular to use as our base. Then we put our twist on them with local flavorings.”
Braised Pork Belly & Bao Buns (all photos part of Asian Street Food at Plumeria Beach House, $80 per person)
Guests instantly will feel as though they’re in a lively food market with one bite of Braised Pork Belly & Bao Buns, garnished with spring onions and hoisin sauce. Inside each fluffy bun is succulent Kurobuta pork belly — considered by many to be the best quality pork available — which has been soy braised until fork tender, then sliced and sauteed for crisp-iness. Sumptuous meat also will come in the form of Char Siu Roast Duck, prepared to please with its familiar sweet and savory seasonings.
Hirabayashi shares that he was inspired by his own experiences enjoying street foods when traveling and working in Singapore and Japan, which will help him bring authenticity to the event. As he describes, every culture has its own type of meat skewer — a street-food staple — so he created his own version of Satay Skewers, perfectly grilled and ready to dunk into peanut and sweet-spicy chili sauces.
Pork Fried Rice
The starlit party also will feature street-food mainstays such as Pork Fried Rice, but with a dynamic combination of lap cheong, char siu and roast pork belly lending their richness to the ginger and onion enhanced rice. Patrons also will swoon over large, juicy prawns in Wok Fried Garlic Prawns with chow mein noodles.
Patrons will be able to fully immerse themselves in a cultural experience with Steamed Catch Hong Kong Style, a traditional mix of garlic, ginger, shoyu, rice wine vinegar, green onion and cilantro, along with hot oil as the finishing touch. “That’s a classic dish, so we just kept it basic, pure and simple,” says Hirabayashi. “We pack the belly (of the fish) with cilantro stems because in street cooking, they don’t waste anything, so you cut the top of the herbs for the garnish and then all the bottoms are used to flavor the fish.”
Steamed Catch Hong Kong Style featuring onaga
Asian Street Food at Plumeria Beach House is one of many unique events hosted at The Kahala, and patrons are encouraged to stay tuned for more upcoming celebrations, including a Wine Spectator event slated for October. For reservations and more information about Asian Street Food, call dining reservations at 739-8760 or visit kahalaresort.com/Dining/Dining-Offers-Favorites.
Char Siu Roast Duck
Plumeria Beach House
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
5000 Kahala Ave., Honolulu
Dining Reservations: 739-8760
Asian Street Food At Plumeria Beach House: Friday, Sept. 9, 6-9 P.M.
Honolulu, HI 96816
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